[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 10 (Wednesday, February 11, 1998)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E129]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              REMEMBERING THE JAPANESE-AMERICAN INTERNMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. ROBERT A. UNDERWOOD

                                of guam

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 11, 1998

  Mr. UNDERWOOD. Mr. Speaker, we have always prided ourselves in being 
one Nation, one people. The United States is truly a country composed 
of immigrants, and the great attraction continues to be the hope of a 
better life in this dynamic land. However, February 19 represents the 
tragic betrayal of that American dream to a group of Americans singled 
out for their race. On February 19, 1942, President Franklin Roosevelt 
issued Executive Order 9066 which authorized the relocation and 
incarceration of thousands of Americans of Japanese descent in camps 
all over the United States.
  After the American declaration of war against Japan, Executive Order 
9066 went into effect. Japanese-American families endured terrible 
living conditions under these camps administered by an organization 
called the War Relocation Authority. Food shortages, cramped, communal 
living quarters and lack of sanitation facilities were only a few of 
the hardships. Although Japanese-Americans were later allowed, and 
sometimes forced, to enlist in the American military service, they were 
paid sub-level wages and fought for a country which imprisoned their 
families. Some courageous Japanese-Americans legally challenged the 
executive order; however, the Supreme Court upheld its validity.
  On December 17, 1944, President Roosevelt revoked Executive Order 
9066 and Japanese-Americans were allowed to return home. Many families 
were forced to start their lives from scratch. Although the American 
Evacuation Claims Act of 1948 was supposed to compensate Japanese-
Americans, less than 10% were paid in property losses of over 26,500 
claims. On August 10, 1988, President Reagan issued an apology and 
offered restitution for those who survived the camps. However, half of 
the 120,000 incarcerated Japanese-Americans died even before the bill 
was signed into law.
  Japanese-American imprisonment in the 1940's is a tragic episode in 
American history which cannot be repeated. February 19, is a fateful 
day and should remind us of the lessons learned from Executive Order 
9066. The racial connotations attributed to that order resulted in the 
mass betrayal of thousands of Americans who were constantly moved to 
exhibit their loyalties to the United States.
  In 1998, there are those who have not even heard of the Japanese-
American internment. We must educate our constituents on the importance 
of this day. I am happy to note that the Museum of American History has 
provided an extensive exhibit on this subject. I encourage my 
colleagues to view this exhibit. As Americans, we owe it to our 
constituents to educate ourselves about this terrible and unfortunate 
experience in our history.

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